Today's Opinions

We were pleased to note the thorough and thought provoking story you published in the Los Alamos Monitor May 5, but we are troubled to be so informed of a major difficulty facing Los Alamos Family Council.
We are proud of the community services offered by LAFC for nearly 50 years, consisting primarily of counseling and youth programs. We cannot imagine the detriment to our community if LAFC closed its doors.
Youth Activity Centers in Los Alamos as well as in White Rock for grades 3 -8 would be absent, as would be the counseling offered for low income families, remediation for alcohol and substance abuse, family relationships, mental health, crisis line and other areas of concern.

This year continues on the path of solid gains, but it has certainly not been a smooth ride.
Stocks and bonds have had to steer clear of geopolitical risks, budget issues, natural disasters and the ongoing debt crisis in Europe.
In spite of these issues we have been able to generate positive returns.
Stocks enjoyed their best first quarter in 15 years, but, the question is, will we be able to continue on this pace the rest of the year?
Bonds hit some speed bumps in the first quarter, but low to middle single digit gains still looks possible. In any market, there are always opportunities, you just need to know where to look for them.

We would like to thank the Pajarito Environmental Education Center for providing a platform and a set of amazing volunteers for the Art Swap last weekend.
PEEC helped the community recycle tables and trunks full of art supplies, and gave new inspiration to everyone who came through the doors.
Special thanks to all who set up tables as well.
What a difference you’ve made!

I’ve been reading the letters about the proposed changes to Trinity Drive; listened to people talking on the street; listened to county council meetings and agree there is a load of 11th hour people coming out; offering mostly complaints and not solutions.
My question: Has anyone looked at instead of making Trinity smaller by adding roundabouts that potentially cause emergency vehicles inability to get to their destinations timely, to put in overpasses that will allow even those with physical handicaps access? I’ve seen them in several places in Albuquerque so they must work. After all the ones on Diamond Drive seem to work pretty good and we aren’t putting roundabouts there.

Talking about infrastructure planning for the future of New Mexico energy is a serious exercise in testing your ability to tolerate reality.
There is no pie in the sky. This is about how you and I will be able to turn the lights on, 20 years from now.
PNM is currently undergoing such an exercise, with a full complement of public participation. The participants are not a hand-picked group. Everybody who showed up got a place at the table.
Wherever you are in New Mexico, this affects you. You are part of the region and face similar cost issues and environmental trade-offs. You also breathe the same air.
The trade-offs look like this:

Did you know that Memorial Day is commemorated in different ways and on different dates throughout our nation?
The observance had its beginnings during the Civil War, which is a good hint that there would not be uniformity.
More than two dozen cities and towns lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day, and each had its own customs.
There is evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War.
Following the war, towns in the North decided it would be a good idea to honor their military dead also.
In 1868, “Decoration Day” was officially proclaimed. It was so named because the emphasis was on decorating graves of fallen soldiers.

I read, with surprise, the May 10 Los Alamos Monitor story “Detonation permit meeting has fireworks” in which Los Alamos National Laboratory representatives expressed their concern about “noise” from test explosions on White Rock residents.
I think the most important point has been missed. A distant siren and subsequent explosion may get my attention, but the “shock wave” from these explosions is what I really worry about. I believe test explosions conducted by the laboratory should have adequate insight and controls to limit shock waves so that they will not create stress cracks in drywall, footings and stem walls, rattle windows, cause pictures on the walls to fall or tilt, or cause other damage to our homes.

I just read David Jones’ letter about the attack on him and his dogs and I am very sorry this happened to him.
To the owner of those dogs, and any others who allow such behavior, please take note.
Los Alamos County has very generously permitted dog owners to enjoy walking their dogs without the encumbrance of a leash, in designated areas, under voice and sight control.
“Voice and sight control means the keeper has the ability to control the dog by voice command and the dog must respond immediately to that command.
Further, the dog must remain within sight of the keeper. Even in designated voice and sight control areas in Los Alamos, the dog must be on a leash unless it meets the requirements of voice and sight control.”